On Our Radar

On Our Radar

After popular file-sharing website Megaupload was shut down last week by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the next site in danger could be the aptly named The Pirate Bay.

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The Swedish Supreme Court denied an appeal from the founders of The Pirate Bay against prison sentences and fines, the court said on Wednesday. In 2010 the Court of Appeals sentenced Fredrik Neij, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundstrom to ten months, eight months, and four months of jail time respectively. The Swedish Supreme Court denied the chance to argue their case and they now face jail time and fines of 46 million kronor (US$6.7 million). The court decided that there are no special circumstances in the case of the Pirate Bay founders and there was no reason to hear the case.

"The Pirate Bay case is fundamentally important and it is unfortunate that the Supreme Court chooses not to hear the case," said Anna Troberg, leader of the Pirate Party in Sweden, in a statement.

The Swedish entertainment industry is more supportive of the decision. According to the industry-funded Anti-Piracy Office the verdict is a defining moment in the battle over copyright on the Internet. The group said that it will act against the 150 illegal file-sharing services that have Swedish connections.

While the trial of its three founders has been a cause of concern, The Pirate Bay is more worried about the United States. Immediately after the trial, the site changed their domain to a Swedish .se outside the reach of U.S. authorities. With Megaupload out of business, the largest torrent site on the Internet is a prime target for a domain seizure.

The site remains defiant and delivered a message that it will remain operational in the face of crackdowns by U.S. authorities. The press release called 2012 the year of the storm and that users should build more sites to share content.

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"2012 is the year of the storm. The Pirate Bay will reach an age of 9 years. Experiencing raids, espionage and death threats, we're still here. We've been through hell and back and it has made us tougher than ever."

"But what enrages us to our inner core is that the system, the empire, the governments, are still allowed to try to boss you and us around with one law crazier than the other. Do you think they will stop with SOPA/ACTA/PIPA? They will not. Because you won't stop sharing those files. Because we will not stay down. Because no one can turn back time. Together, we are the iron that hardens with each strike," the press release continues.

Finally the site exhorts others to build more sites, more nets and more protocols.

"In this year of the storm, the winners will build windmills and the losers will raise shelters. So flex your muscles, fellow pirates, and give power to us all! Build more sites! More nets! More protocols! Scream louder than ever and take it to the next level!"